Improved boat-detaching tackle



@uiten gisten atent @frn JOI'IN lvl. BROGKE, OF LEXINGTON, `VIRGINIA.

Letters Patent N. 09,069, dated 'cpfvmlur 24, 1867.

IMPROVED BOAT-DETAGHING TAC/KLB.

TO ALL WIIOM II MAY CONCEItN: l

Be it knownl that I, JOHN M. BROOKE, of Lexington, in the connty of ltockbridge, and State ot' Virginia, have invented a new and improved Boat-Detaehing Hook; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-'- Figure l is a perspective view, showing a boat in the act of being lowered and detached from a vessel.

Figure 2 is a sido view, showing the hook attached to the strap of the block. l l

` Figure 3 is a similar view ot' the saine parts, showing the hook in the act of being detached from the strap of the tackle-block.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the three figures.

This invention relates to a new and improved device to be attached to the stem and stern of ships boats, for facilitating their detachment from the tackle by which they are raised and lowered, and admittingr of the casting e' of boats'with caso and safety.

The nature of my invention consists of a gravitating or loaded hook', which is attached by means of a. slot. and pivot to a standing bolt, and which is so constructed that it will catch into a loop or strap on thetackleblock, and form a safe and strong attachment under all ordinary circumstances, and at the same time admit of being quickly and positively detached from said block when desired, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A. represents a hook, with a curved eye or slot, b, through it, working on a pin or anti-friction roller, c, in the `jaws of a standing bolt, G, which latter is permanently attached to the Y boat. The iron-strapped lower block N ofthe tackle is provided with a slotted bar, K, or its equivalent, having fitted between its lower ends a. roller or pin, l, instead of the c ommon hook.

Detachment is eli'ected by turning' the hook A, through an are of about vninety degrees, about the rollerpin c, in the jaws of the standing bolt G. This maybe done by pulling the tripping-line e, which is attached at d to the back of the hook, and which leads under this hook and over the roller f, and thence to any part of the boat, so that both hooks, at bow and stern, may be simultaneously detached by a single person. The lower y part of the hook'A is made sufficiently heavy to-ke'ep this hook in position for hooking on, as shown in tig. 2, prior to hoisting, to do which it is only necessary to press the roller Zot the block between the chamfered point of the hook and the shoulder or lip m of the standing bolt G, when the hook will open to receive it, and close over it as it enters.

The form of the shoulder at n is such as to prevent accidental unhooking, in case the block is not properly attended to in hooking on, or in case the'boat should be struck from belowby a sea, in hoisting.

Should it be desired at any time to secure the hook rigidly, (equivalent to mousing,) a pin may bepassed through the hook and jaws of the bolt G, as at s, and secured by a lanyard or its equivalent. By slightly varying the relation of the curves of the bend and eye of the hook any degree of sensibility may be given to the device, as its sensibility, or the degree of ease with which detachment may be effected, when the weight of` the boat bears upon thehook, depends upon the relative positions of the centres of curvature of the bend and eye of the hook. If the centre g of curvature of the eye be to thc'lett of the centre p'of curvature of the bcnd'of the hook, as shown in iig. 2, the tendency of the hook, with or without the weight attached, will be to maintain the position 'shown in fig. 2, and force will be required to effect detachment.` But it the centre of curvature ofthe eye be to the right of the centre of curvature ofthe bend, the tendency is to assume the position shown in iig. 3. It then is selt`detaching,and must be restrained until detachment is required. If the 4curves be concentric, the tendency will be to romain in any position in which the hook may be set. In all cases,

however, when the weight et' the boat is not bearing upon the hook, the preponderating weight of the lower part of the hook will maintain it in the position shown in fig. 2. v

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure diy Letters Patent, is-

1. The hook witha curved slot, I, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

2. The combination of the slotted loaded hook A stand holt G,v ot' a boat, and tackle-block strap lc, eonstrncted substantially as herein described. Y

JOIIN M. BROOKE.

Witnesses:

A. F. DnNnr, W. N. Bimrus, J1-l 

